An Overview of Soil Genesis, Mineralogy and Classification

This book is important for different concepts of soil genesis, mineralogy and classification e.g. Fundamentals of crystallography, space lattice, coordination theory, isomorphism and polymorphism. Classification, structure, chemical composition and properties of clay minerals; genesis and transformation of crystalline and non-crystalline clay minerals; identification techniques; amorphous soil constituents and other non- crystalline silicate minerals and their identification; clay minerals in Indian soils, role of clay minerals in plant nutrition, interaction of clay with humus, pesticides and heavy metals. Factors of soil formation, soil formation models; soil forming processes; weathering of rocks and mineral transformations; soil profile; weathering sequences of minerals with special reference to Indian soils. Concept of soil individual; soil classification systems-historical developments and modern systems of soil classification with special emphasis on soil taxonomy; soil classification, soil mineralogy and soil maps-usefulness.